Practice English Reading Exercises for A1 – Special Days, Parties & Weekend Fun
Reading 1
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
The Best Dance Party
Last Friday evening, Sarah had a big party at her house. It was the end of the school year. She invited ten happy school friends to her home. They arrived at six o’clock and brought some small presents for her. Sarah was very excited to see everyone.
Examples
The party at Sarah’s house was on ………Friday evening……… .
Sarah invited ………ten……… happy school friends to the party.
Questions
1 The friends arrived at the house at …………………… .
2 The children gave Sarah some …………………… when they arrived.
3 Sarah felt …………………… when she saw all her friends.
The children went into the large living room. Sarah’s older brother put on some loud pop music for them. The friends loved the new songs and started to dance quickly. They laughed a lot and jumped on the grey rug. Suddenly, Sarah’s dad opened the door. He carried a big tray with lots of cheese sandwiches and sweet orange juice.
4 Sarah and her friends went into the …………………… .
5 Sarah’s …………………… played some loud pop music for the children.
6 The children started to …………………… to the new songs.
7 Sarah’s dad brought sweet orange juice and lots of …………………… on a big tray.
The children stopped dancing because they were hot and hungry. They sat down together on the long sofa. They ate the cheese sandwiches quickly and drank all the orange juice. “This is the best party!” her best friend Lily said. Sarah smiled happily. She loved the music and wanted to dance again!
8 The children stopped dancing because they were …………………… .
9 The friends sat on the …………………… to eat their food.
10 Sarah’s best friend, …………………… , thought it was the best party.
ANSWER KEY
1 six o’clock 2 small presents 3 very excited
4 large living room 5 older brother 6 dance quickly 7 cheese sandwiches
8 hot and hungry 9 long sofa 10 Lily
Reading 2
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
Buster’s Special Dinner
Last Sunday was a very special day at home. It was the birthday of the family dog, Buster. Buster was five years old. He was a big, happy dog with soft brown hair. In the morning, the children, Tom and Anna, played lots of games with him in the garden.
Examples
The family had a ………special day……… at home last Sunday.
The name of the family’s dog is ………Buster……… .
Questions
1 Buster was ………………………… on Sunday.
2 Buster is a happy dog and he has ………………………… .
3 Tom and Anna played games with Buster inside the ………………………… .
In the afternoon, Dad went to the supermarket. He didn’t buy normal dog food. He bought a very big steak for Buster. When Dad came back home, he cooked the meat in the kitchen. It smelled great! Buster sat on the floor near the door and watched Dad carefully. The hungry dog was very happy.
4 Dad travelled to the ………………………… in the afternoon.
5 Dad got a ………………………… for Buster instead of normal dog food.
6 Dad ………………………… in the family’s kitchen.
7 Buster watched Dad while sitting on the floor near ………………………… .
In the evening, Dad put the cooked steak in Buster’s red bowl. Tom and Anna sang a happy song for their beautiful pet. Buster ate the delicious meat very quickly. Then, he went to sleep on his favourite mat. It was a fantastic birthday!
8 Dad put the special dinner inside the dog’s ………………………… .
9 Buster ate all of his ………………………… very quickly.
10 After dinner, the dog slept on ………………………… .
ANSWER KEY
1 five years old
2 soft brown hair
3 garden
4 supermarket
5 very big steak
6 cooked the meat
7 the door
8 red bowl
9 delicious meat
10 his favourite mat
Reading 3
Read the story. Write words to complete the sentences about the story.
You can use 1, 2 or 3 words.
The Surprise Train Trip
Last Saturday morning, Julia’s father had a great surprise for the family. ‘We are going on a special trip today!’ he said. They walked to the station and caught a fast train. Julia sat next to the window. She was very excited because she loves traveling.
Examples
The special trip was a great ………surprise……… for the family.
The family went to the station and got on a ………fast train……… .
Questions
1 Julia sat next to the ………………………… on the train.
2 Julia felt ………………………… about the trip.
3 Julia was happy because she loves ………………………… .
After an hour, the train stopped in a big city. The family walked down a long street and heard some loud music. ‘Look!’ said Julia’s brother, Sam. ‘It is a funfair!’ The funfair was very noisy and full of happy children. Julia and Sam wanted to go on the big wheel first. It was very high, but the children were not afraid.
4 The train stopped in a ………………………… after an hour.
5 The family heard some ………………………… when they walked down the street.
6 The noisy funfair was full of ………………………… .
7 The children wanted to ride the ………………………… first.
From the top of the big wheel, Julia could see all the tall buildings in the city. After the ride, Dad bought them some sweet apples and hot burgers. They ate their food on a bench and listened to the music. It was a wonderful weekend.
8 Julia saw all the ………………………… from the top of the ride.
9 Dad bought hot burgers and ………………………… for the children to eat.
10 The family sat on a ………………………… to eat their food.
ANSWER KEY
1 window 2 very excited / excited 3 traveling
4 big city 5 loud music 6 happy children 7 big wheel
8 tall buildings 9 sweet apples 10 bench